Michael Kopech Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects
TRACK RECORD: The White Sox acquired Kopech from the Red Sox in 2016 as part of the package for lefty Chris Sale. He made his major league debut for the White Sox in 2018 and flashed immense potential, but a torn elbow ligament led to Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2019. He opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kopech is the classic power pitcher armed with a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and peaks at 102 mph. He backs up his heater with a wicked slider that projects as a plus pitch. Kopech started throwing a two-seam fastball as a way to improve his changeup in the minors and earned his first callup after the pitch improved to average. His next step is to improve his curveball so it doesn’t blend with his slider, which would give him a full four-pitch arsenal. Kopech’s electric arm speed and high-octane arsenal have made it difficult for him to consistently throw strikes at times, but he has the athleticism and delivery to project average control as he continues to harness his raw power.
THE FUTURE: Kopech looked electric before spring training was shut down. The White Sox expect him to compete for a spot at the top of the rotation in 2021.
